Shipping-case.



w. H. DOBLE. SHIPPING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.20. 1916.

1,205,521 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

WILLIAM H. DOBLE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LIMITED, 0F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR-EORATION OF MAINE.

SHIPPING-CASE.

To all whom it mayV concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DOBLE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, county of. Norfolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Shipping-Cases, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in folding metallic shippingcases.

It has special reference to that class of shipping cases which areformed with an inner and an outer wall spaced apart from each other andare employed in shipping packages of goods which need to be speciallyprotected, the shipping cases being intended to be folded into compactform after the goods have been received at the place of destination andreturned to the shipper to be again used.

It has been found sometimes that after' the shipping case has beenreceived atits` destination with the filled packages and before it isreturned to the shipper that the shipping case has been improperly used,as for instance, as a receptacle for waste matter, such as rubbish orashes or other material for which the shipping case was not intended tobe used and which soils the interior, so that when it is nally returnedto the shipper, it is either entirely ruined for its proper purpose orelse much labor and expense has to be incurred in cleaning it andrestoring it to its proper condition.

Theobject of the invention is to so construct the shipping case thatafter the merchandise has been removed at its destination it willbe'practically imposisble to use the case for such improper purposes ashas been mentioned, or, at any rate, iL can not be so used without suchinconvenience that there will be no temptation for such misuse.

The invention will be fully understood when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and the novel features thereof `will be pointedout and clearly deined in the claims-at the close of this specif'l- ASpecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed January 20, 1916. Serial No. 73,235.

tion of the shipping case, showing a portion of the bottom and rearpanels and their connections with each other. Fig. 3 'is an elevation ofthe lower part of the rear panel partly broken away and partly insection. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the shipping case online l--4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section at right angles toFig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section on the same line as Fig.

2 showing the latch connection between the bottom and back disengagedand the back lifted a short distance away from the bottom panel. Fig. 7is asection of a portion of the bottom panel showing the locking plateturned up against the under side of the bottom panel after the backpanel has been entirely separated from the bottom panel.

Having reference now to the drawings, A is the top panel, B is thebottom panel, C the rear panel, D the front panel, and E, F the two endpanels ofthe shipping case. Each panel is composedof an outer and aninner plate 1, 2, and a corrugated strengthening plate 3 which contactsalternately with the inner and outer plates.

There is inserted into the rear edge of the top panel a channel'plate 4and into the upper edge of the rear panel C there is inserted a channelplate 5, the said channel plate 4L having a projecting neck 6terminating in a. barrel port-ion 61 which has a series of cut outspaces alternating with a series of knuckle portions, and the channelpiece 5 is formed with a'projecting neck portion 7 terminating in abarrel portion 71 which has a series of spaces alternating with a seriesof knuckle portions. A hinge rod 8 passes through the knuckle portions61, and a hinge rod 9 passes through the knuckle portions 71. Said hingerods are connected together by a series of links 10 which fill in thespaces between the knuckles 61 andthe spaces between the knuckles 7l.

The top A which serves as the cover has a clip fastening connection 11with the front panel D which is put on .after the box is filled, butwhen the clip is removed the cover A is capable of being folded over onto the outer face of the panel C, by reason of the hinge connectionbetween the back C and the top A already described. The front D has ahinge connection with the bottom B similar to the hinge connectionbetween the top A and the back C, namely, the panel D` has a channelmember 12 provided with :lic

knuckle extensions 13 and the bottom panel B has channel member laprovided with knuckle extensions 15, and said knuckle extensions 13 and15 are respectively pro vided with hinge pins 16 and 17 which areconnected by links 1S. Thus when the clip connection 11 between thefront panel and the top panel is disengaged, the front panel may befolded down and up against the under side of the bottom panel B.

Each of the end panels E, F, has a hinge connection with one of thevertical edges of both the rear panel C and the :t1-ont panel D. The toppanel A merely shuts down over the two end panels E, F, as shown by theoverhanging flange portions 36, in Fig. 5, and there is a similarrelation between the bottom B and the end panels E, F, as shown by theiianges 37, but they are not fastened together.

There is provided a separable latch connection between the bottom panelB and the rear panel C. This separable connection is of suoli characterthat while the packages P are in thefcase the said rear and bottompanels will iemain locked together even though the cover is opened, butafter the cover is opened and the packages have all been removed, theseparable connection will begin to be opened automatically if the caseis lifted from the floor or other support on which it stands, and thesaid rear panel will then become completely separated from the bottompanel. ThisV separable connection comprises the invention and will benow described. The rear panel C is provided with a channel member 19 inits lower edge, said channel member having in the lower face thereof alongitudinal groove or valley 20. The bottom panel B has inserted in theback edge thereof and secured therein a channel member 38 having aprojecting barrel portion 21 formed with a lip 22 which engages with thegroove or valley 2O in the channel member 19 for the purpose ofaffording a more rigid connection between the bottom panel B and therear panel C when the said two panels are locked together. A rod 23passes through said barrel 21 from end to end. The barrel 21 has aplurality of spaces cut out at different places in its length.Corresponding with each space in the barrel is a plate having at one enda coil 24 which loosely surrounds said rod 23 within the said space, anda flat portion 25 which extends up through a space between the adjacentedges of the panels B and C against the tace of the inner wall plate 2oi' the rear panel but is not attached thereto. The said inner wallplate 2 is formed with apertures 26 therein which are overlapped by saidplates 25. Said plates 25 are each provided with a. nose shapedprojection 27 which extends through the opening 26 and into the spacebetween the inner wall plate 2 and the outer wall plate 1. These nosepieces 27 have a sloping back 28, but the front edge of the nose pieceis in height substantially the same as the opening 26 through which itextends.

A spring plate 29 is secured at one edge 30 to the face otl the innerwall plate 2within the space between the two wall plates 1,

y 2, the free end of saidy spring extending downward and having a bentend 31 which bears against the inner end of the nose piece 27. The saidspring kis under tension, and therefore constantly tends to push thenose piece 27 out of the recess and thereby tends to turn the plate 25around on the hinge rod 23. he pressure of the packages P, against saidplate when the case is full, resists this tendency otl the plate to turnon the rod, but as soon as the last package is removed the plate 25 willbe tree to be moved under pressure of the sprinO 29 until the spring 29has sprung back as far as it will go, which will be suticient for thenose piece 27 to be pushed entirely out of the opening 26. The bent end31 of the spring where it engages the inner end of the nose piece isoffset sutliciently to push the nose piece entirely out'otl the opening.At this time the plate 25 will be tilted back on its hinge rod 23 at aninward and upward inclination away from the inner wall 2 vof the rearpanel C, assuming that the case is resting on the floor or other bottomsupport.

ik spiral spring 32 is coiled around the rod 23, under tension, one end33 of said spring bearing against the edge of the innerY spring, 32,however, is lessV powerfulrthan the spring 29. After the packages 1) areall removed from the case, the spring 29 is sutticiently strong to pushthe nose piece 27 out through the opening 26 as already describedagainst the counter pressure of the spring 32, thus coiling the springV82 still more and increasing its tension. Now after the last package hasbeen removed, it' the case is attempted to be raised liromthe ioor thepanel C will be lifted up without lifting the rear edge of the panel Bbecause the groove 2O will separate from the lip or tongue 22, and theinner small end of the nose 27 will ride down on the inner wall plate 2below the opening 26 as shown in gins to come into engagement with thelower edge of the plate 2, the spring 32 will become operative and turnthe plate 25 back on its hinge as fast as it is allowed by the slopingback28 of the nose until the nose has passed entirely below the plate 2,at which time that part of the plate 25 which is above the nose 27 willengage flatly against the plate 2 until the panel C has `been lifted farenough from the bottom panel B to entirely free it from the plate 25.Then the plate 25 is free to respond fully to the action of the spring32 and will be turned around on the rod 23 to bring it flat against theunder side of the panel B as shown in Fig. 7. The outer plate l and theintermediate corrugated plate 3 of the bottom panel are formed withopenings 35 to admit the nose piece 27.

It will thus be seen that after the shipping case has been emptied ofits contents, if anyone attempts to lift the case when it is still emptythe bottom B will become automatically separated from the panel C andthus the case will be rendered practically useless as a receptacle forrubbish or the like unless one takes the trouble to set it up again andfill it sufciently to hold the hinge plate 25 back against the wallplate 2 and hold the parts locked in position as already described whenin use. The trouble one must take to do this, however, is such that itis unlikely that anyone will undertake to use it for the objectionablepurposes previously mentioned.

Vhat I claim is:

l. A box having a drop bottom, a separable connection between saidbottom and one of the side panels, means for normally tending todisengage said connection and so constructed and located that saidtendency is resisted by the engagement of the contents of the boxagainst said connection.

2. A box having a drop bottom `panel, said bottom panel having a hingedconnection with one of the side panels, a separable connection with theside panel opposite said first side panel, said separable connectionbeing held in its engaging position by the resistance of the contents ofthe box when theL box contains material which bears against saidconnection, and ymeans which automatically disengages said connectionwhen the contents are removed, the bottom being constructedV to dropautomatically when the empty box is lifted.

3. A box having a separable latch connection between the bottom and oneof the side panels thereof, and which is held in latchisa removed, thesaid side panel automatically separating from said bottom panel when theside panel is raised while the latch mechanisml is in disengagedposition.

t. A box having a separable latch connection between the bottom and oneof the side panels thereof, said separable connection comprising amember hinged to one edge of the bottom panel and having an extensionwhich projects up on the inner face of the said side panel, and a latchportion mounted thereon, said side panel being formed with a recess withwhich said latch portion is adapted to engage to hold the said bottomand side panel in locking engagement, and means which normally pressesagainst said latch member and holds it out of engaging position'when thebox is empty, the pressure of said disengaging means being overcome bythe pressure of the contents of the box if the box contains material ofsufficient quantity to press against said latch mechanism from theinside of the box.

5. A box having a separable connection between the bottom and one of theside panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hinge rodattached to an extension of one edge of the bottom panel, a latch platehaving on one edge a coil through which said hinge rod loosely'passes,said latch plate having an extension which extends up between theadjacent edges of the said bottom and side panel and along; Y

side of the inner face of said side panel, a hook portion on the face ofsaid latch member toward the face of said side panel, said side panelbeing formed with a recess with which saidhook is adapted to engage tolock said two panels together and which is held in suchengaging positionby the pressure of the contents of the box if the box contains materialof sufficient quantity' to press against said latch member from withinthe box, and means which automatically disengages said hook from saidrecess when the pressure from within the box is released. i*

6. A box having a separable connection between the bottom and one of theside panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hinge rodattached to an extension alongside of one edge of the bottom panel, alatch plate having on one edge a coil through which said hngerod looselypasses, said latch plate having anV extension which extends up betweenthe adjacent edges of the said bottom and said panels and alongside ofthe inner` face of said side panel, a hook portion on the face of saidlatch member toward the face of said side panel, said side panel beingformed with a recess with which said hook is adapted to engage to locksaid two panels together and which is held in such engaging position bythe pressure of the contents of the box it' the box contains material otsutlicient quantity to press against said latch member from within thebox, and a spring within the wall of said side panel which pressesagainst said hook tending to disengage it from the recess and causingsuch disengagement when ythe box is emptied of its contents.

i7. A box having Ya separable connection between the bottom and one ot'the said panels thereof, said separable connection comprising a hingerod attached to Van extension alongside ot one edge of the bottom panel,a latch plate having on one edge a coil through which said hinge rodloosely passes, said latch plate having an extension which extends upbetween the adjacent edges of the said bottom and said side panel andalongside of the inner face of said side panel, a hook portion von theface of said latch member toward the tace of said side panel, said sidepanel being formed with a recess with which said hook is adapted toengage to lock said two panels together and which is held in suchengaging position by the pressure ot' the contents of the box it the boxcontains material ot' sutlicient quantity to press against said latchmember from within the box, a spring within 'the wall oit said sidepanel which presses against said hook tending to disengage it from therecess and causing such disengagement when the box is emptied of itscontents, said side panel being then separable from the bottom panel bysimply lifting said side panel while the bottom panel remains stationaryand a spring which, when the said side panel is released from engagementwith said locking plate, swings said locking plate around on its hinge,and holds it folded up against the under side ot' the bottom panel.

8. A folding metallic box having a hinge connection between the bottomand kone of the side panels, a separable locking connection between saidbottom and the side panel opposite said first side panel, said lockingmechanism being held in engagement by the pressure of material containedwithin the box, and means constantly tending to disengage said lockingmechanism and which is operative to disengage said locking mechanismwhen the box is emptied of its contents, the other two side panels otsaid box being at all times free to separate from said bottom panel,Athereby permitting the bottom of the box to drop open automaticallywhen the box is lifted away from any bottom support. l

9. A box having a drop bottom hinged on one edge to one of the sidepanels of said box, the opposite edge of said bottom having a latchmechanism connected therewith which is adapted to engage with the sidepanel opposite Said lirst side panel and which is held in suchengagement by the pressure thereon of material contained within the box,if the box contains material, and mechanism connected with said lastmentioned side panel which normally tends vto hold said latch disengagedwhen the box is empty and which is operative to disengage said latchwhen the contents of the box are removed, thereby rendering the bottomcapable of automatically dropping by gravity when the empty box islifted away from the bottom support.

10. A folding metallic box having panels composed ot inner and outerplates spaced apart from each other, a hinge connection between one edgeof the bottom panel and one ot the side panels, the opposite edge ofsaid bottom panel having a channel plate inserted therein formed with anoutwardly extending barrel portion, the side panel ad-v jacent the edgeof said lbottom portion which carries said channel member having achannel plate formed with a longitudinal groove therein, the barrelportion of said channel member of the bottom panel being formed with alongitudinal lip which engages with the groove in the channel mem ber ofthe said side panel, a separable latch connection between said bottompanel and said last mentioned side panel, means which normally holdssaid latch disengaged from said side panel when the box is empty butwhich is held in engaging position by the pressure of contents withinthe box when the box is filled.

11. A folding metallic box having panels composed of inner and outerplates spaced apart from each other, a hinge connection between one edgeot' the bottom panel and one of the side panels, the opposite edge ofsaid bottom panel having a channel plate inserted therein formedwith anoutwardly extending barrel portion, the side panel adjacent the edge ofsaid bottom portion which carries said channel member having a channelformed with a longitudinal groove therein, the barrel yportion of saidchannel member ot the bottom panel being formed with a longitudinal lipwhich engages ywith the groove in the channel member of the said sidepanel, a rod extending through said barrel portion, a plate having onone edge a coil through which said rod passes, said plate extending Vupbetween said bottom and said last mentioned side panel and against theinner face of the said side panel, said side panel being formed with arecess `and said plate being formed with a hook which is adapted toengage in said recess to lock the said bottom and said side paneltogether and which is held in engaging position by the pressure of thecontents of the box'when the box is full, and means which automaticallydisengages said hook from said recess When the pressure of the conplishsuch disengagement When the box is tents of the box is removed. empty,the said bottom being free to drop l2. A box having a top cover capableof by gravity if the box islifted when empty. being opened to introducematerial into the In testimony whereof I atlix my signa- 5 box, a dropbottom, a separable connection ture, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

between said bottom and one of the side panels, means tending todisengage the said WILLIAM I-I. DOBLE. connection, said tendency beingresisted by Witnesses: the contents of the box engaging with said GEO.A. ROBINSON,

10 connection, and being effective to accom- ROSEINA MCQUEEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

